Banditproof booth



Dec. 26, 1922. 4

A. McDONALD.

BANDITPROOF BOOTH.

l 0 APR. 18. 1922.

A'ITORNEY Xfza w TNEsSES' Patented Dec. 26, 1922.

STATES PATEToFFi BANDITPROOF BOOTH.

Application filed April 18, 1922. Serial No. 554,504.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR MCDONALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muscat-inc, in the county of Muscatine and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Banditproof Booths, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to protective devices and has for its object the provision of a novel booth or turret designed for use in banks, warehouses, express cars, and other places Where large amounts of money are handled, it being intended that the device be occupied by a watchman or guardian whose business it is to keep watch upon the surroundings and protect the property from depredation b bandits and the like. An important ob ect is the provision of a booth of this character which is provided with an opening through which the occupant may view the surroundings and ascertain the advent of a would be robber, the booth being furthermore provided with an opening extending entirely there around through which the occupant may shoot to repel the bandit, means being provided for deflecting the bullets from the booth and protecting the occupant in case the bandit or robber' fires.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to control and operate, positive in action, durable and safe in service and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects andadvantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be 'herelnafter more fully described and claimed and 'il-- tageous or convenient This shell or booth is intended to be constructed of sheet metal of sufiicient'thickness and temper to be bul let proof and in actual practice it would be probably constructed of a plurality of plates riveted or bolted together. At some convenlent point it is necessary that the booth be provided with a 'door 11 by means of which access may be had to the interior and this door must naturally be provided at its outside with a handle 12- and at its inside with a suit-able lock 13.

At a suitable height this booth is provided with a continuous or substantially continuous opening 14 which is horizontally arranged and through which the occupant maylook to keep watch on the surroundings. Located on the inside of the booth near the opening 14 is arod 15 upon which is slidably mounted a telescopic device or field glass which is for the purpose of permitting the occupant to obtain a closer view of any assailants and their operations. 7 The slidability of this glass allows it to be disposed at any desired point most convenient to the occupant. Secured on the outside of the booth adjacent this opening 14 is a hollow moulding 17 having its-concave side disposed outwardly and which is for the purpose of deflecting any bullets which mi ht strike the booth at the sight opening.

it a point below the sight opening 14 the booth is provided .with a substantially continuous opening 18 of slightly larger size than the opening 14 and which-is for the purpose of permitting the occupant to shoot and repel the attack of any bandits or robbers. Secured on the outside of the booth adjacent this opening 18 is a hollow moulding 19 having its concave side disposed outwardly and likewise for the purpose of defleeting any bullets which may strike this point or along this line.

Secured against the inner surface of this boothjustbelow theshooting opening--18 is a shelf 20 which sla-ntsupwardly, in actual practice approximately two and one-half inches, and which is for the protection of the occupant in case a bullet should come through the opening 18 and this shelf is provided at its upper portion with a curved surface 21 which will operate to catch the bullet.

Secured upon the shelf at the bullet line is a series of'defiector brackets 22 which are of peculiar shape as shown and which are for the purpose of deflecting or catching any bullets which might enter from the side.

The top of the booth should naturally be provided with any preferred or conventional ventilating means indicated at 23 so that the proper supply-of fresh air will be furnished the occupant.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be readily apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and consequently inexpensive safety booth or turret which may be mounted either upon the floor or preferably at a slight elevation there above and which may be occupied by a watchman or other guardian who way at all times keep a watchful eye upon the surroundings and repel forcibly any attempted holdup, it being possible for him to see and to shoot without danger of being injured so that the device will operate effectively as a safe guard against depredation and to preserve property against loss.

\Vhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it'is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a booth of bullet proof material provided at its top with ventilating means and provided with a door having locking means, said booth being formed with a horizontally extending peripheral sight opening and a similar opening located at a lower level for permitting shooting therethrough. a shelf secured within the booth adjacent the shooting permitting opening and formed with a curved surface constituting a bullet catcher.

2. A device of the character described comprising a booth of bullet proof material provided at its top with ventilating means and provided with a door having locking means, said booth being formed with a horizontally extending peripheral sight opening and a similar opening located at a lower level for permitting shooting therethrough, a shelf secured within the shooting permitting opening and formed with a curved surface constituting a bullet catcher, and a" plurality of deflecting elements secured at spaced intervals and having curved portions constituting means for catching bullets en-' tering from the side.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARTHUR McDONALD. 

